51 Benton St.: Formerly Schreiter-Sandrock Funeral Home

Fortunately I have not visited many funeral homes for their intended purpose, but I have had the opportunity of viewing many century old funeral homes across Southern Ontario in my previous career as an advertising consultant. In no way would I be considered morbid. Association with death does not appeal to me, but I did enjoy every funeral home appointment. Most appointments included a tour, including historical background about the original owner, if I was lucky. (An added bonus to these appointments….they were always quiet, peaceful and interrupted.. a sales reps dream!) What has intrigued me about century old funeral homes is their beautiful architecture and the meticulous attention most current owners apply to the maintenance and up-keep of the original features.

I travel daily by foot (or car) past the former Schreiter-Sandrock Funeral Home located on the corner of Benton & Church Street at 51 Benton Street in Kitchener. I have always admired the architecture of this beautiful Victorian Italianate, featuring a Widow’s Peak in original photos.

The Schreiter-Sandrock Funeral Home sold in the early part of 2015. Over the following months, I have noticed the previous business sign gone and the windows replaced. My imagination began to wander…..what a beautiful home this could be! My question; “Would you live in a home that was formerly a funeral home? After thinking about this, I would have to say Yes!” With over 8,000 sq.ft. of useable space, I suppose it would be too large as a residential home for most of us. With several additions the over the decades, I could still envision a beautiful family home with an additional in-law unit(s), or possibly an amazing B & B operation? Maybe this location would become condos or apartment rentals? Possibly a restaurant and banquet facilities? Assuming zoning would be permitted. As long as it is not torn down, I would be happy…. and on that note, it does not look like 51 Benton St. will be a victim to the demolition ball.

Searching through the City of Kitchener website, it appears that the new owners have applied for approval to alter the current parking facilities for the business of a Medical Center.

A bit of history: Built in 1853, 51 Benton Street was family home of Edwin Perry Clement, a prominent lawyer, and his wife Jane, daughter of early Kitchener physician Dr. D.S. Bowlby, until 1924. A.G. Schreiter bought the funeral business (and a furniture business) from the Simpson Co. in Kitchener. The funeral business moved to this location in 1928. It became known as the Schreiter-Sandrock Funeral Home in 1939. Two locals, Jerome Futher and Douglas Hallman, bought the business from Sandrock in 1967.

Kitchener funeral businesses occupy (or have occupied) some of the most beautiful century old homes in the past. More recently the Ratz-Bechtel Funeral Home (formerly the Kaufman House Mansion) at 621 King Street, has hit the real estate market. Wondering what the future use will be?

As a lover of century homes, and an owner of several century homes over the decade(s); I began this blog devoted to Century Homes, allowing me to share my passion of these charming beauties.

This blog will interest old home lovers, owners or those contemplating a purchase.

You will find tips regarding maintenance, construction and renovations; beautiful century homes in the Kitchener, Waterloo and Cambridge region; and information that relates to century homes in general.

As a real estate agent with Re/Max Twin City Realty in Kitchener, I am asked many questions which I will incorporate into my posts. I am also an avid decorator and love renovating, sources of supplies/services and great shops in the area will also be posted.

I am happy to share old home owner information, past experiences, décor tips, photos and information of fabulous older homes on my blog…Enjoy!

Interested in selling or purchasing a century home?….contact me and I would be happy to help!

60-amp electrical service was common in homes built prior to 1950. Many century homes that were serviced with knob and tube wiring, converted to a 60-amp service.

Most homes today have a 100 or 200 amp service. But some still have only a 60 amp service. 60-amps is not enough to service a home with an electric stove, oven, clothes dryer, air conditioner, and so on.

Even if your home operates safely with a 60 amp service, the problem lies in insuring the home. If you are presently living in a home with a 60 amp service and you already have insurance, you may not need to upgrade. A home with a 60 amp service that has a gas stove and gas clothes dryer will have as much available power as a home with a 100 amp service that feeds major electrical appliances.

The concern has more to do with the branch circuit wiring. If you have very few outlets and find you have to snake extension cords throughout the house, an electrician may be able to add more circuits in the areas most needed.

Sometimes practicality forces a decision: if your electrical panel has no room for more circuits, upgrade the panel, or add a sub panel, and it may make more sense to upgrade the entire service at that point.

Insurance companies are concerned with the threat of overuse and overheating, increasing the risk of an electrical fire and a subsequent claim. Your insurance company may require you to upgrade your 60-amp service to 100-amps (the standard for new construction).

A good electrician can evaluate the entire system and recommend an upgrade path appropriate for your home and your needs.

The Mansion Lofts in Kitchener provides the lifestyle of an established neighbourhood and convenient highway accessibility….plus within walking distance to Center In The Square and the downtown Kitchener core. A great neighbourhood! The Mansion Lofts are surrounded primarily by single family homes, a very unique location!

Living in downtown Kitchener will let you experience life the way you want it. Have fun trying and choosing your favourites out of the many local hotspots, and become a regular in your neighbourhood! Events and music in the street, pubs, boutiques, cafes, and markets all add to the incredible feel of living Downtown. The area is upcoming and exciting, creative new businesses, an imaginative community, and state-of-the-art architecture make Downtown a lively place to call it home.

This lovely loft features high ceilings; located on the top floor; corner unit with huge windows and Juliette balcony; two bedrooms; one bath; open concept living room/kitchen/dining area; in-suite laundry facilities….everything you want in a loft!

When purchasing a century home, look up and check all ceilings for stains. Stains can indicate faulty roofing in need of replacement or repair, leaks from plumbing and/or radiator heating pipes. Ask your realtor to investigate and have your home inspector determine if these stains are of significance, or if the problem has been corrected.

Look for ceiling cracks. Cracks in the plaster of older houses may signal disaster or simply reflect the wrinkles of age. Some cracks in plaster houses are really of little concern. These include the cracks in wood lath ceilings. A very serious crack, which generally means foundation trouble is one which runs along the ceiling and then down a wall. Cracks like this usually occur all at once and are accompanied by some floor sagging or sloping. They should be investigated by your home inspector.

A fabulous feature of most century homes is the grand ceiling height, (excluding Craftsman architecture, where ceilings tended to be lower, but many made up for that showcasing fabulous exposed timbers). Keep in mind that the further you progress up in a century home, the ceilings usually become lower leaving the third floor with the lowest ceiling (this floor was usually reserved for servants). Typically the main floor showcased the craftsmanship of plastered ceilings. Decorative plaster was expensive and usually confined to principle rooms. Many plaster ceilings were embellished with hand modelled plaster in classical motifs, sometimes with ornate painting.

So what happened to many of these beautiful crafted ceilings over the years?……the addition of modern amenities such as electricity, heating, plumbing, etc. caused concealment. Many beautiful ceilings started to drop to conceal electrical cables, plumbing, pipes and duct work. Skilled craftsmen were able to add these amenities without compromising the architectural integrity, but many century homes became victims of inexperienced D.I.Y.’ers or inexperienced contractors in the years to come.

I cannot tell you how many century homes I have viewed with “dreaded” ceilings. When showing homes to clients, #1 on the worst of ceilings list is the dreaded “popcorn” ceiling. Also known as ‘cottage cheese’ or ‘stucco’; it was an easy fix to conceal imperfections. This ceiling surface always receives a reaction of horror. “Popcorn ceilings” became popular in the 1950’s up to the 1980’s. With a life span of 30 years….far too many of these ceilings still exist. Unfortunately, some of the early formulations contained white asbestos fibres. Popcorn ceilings can be removed, although the process is messy. Popcorn texturing can be removed by spraying it with water to soften it, then scraping the material off with a large scraping trowel or putty knife. If the texturing was applied before the ban on asbestos, removal should only be done by a licensed professional, or after testing a sample by a qualified laboratory, who can determine asbestos content.

Segway … to a current used ceiling texture the “California Ceiling”. Although this ceiling texture is popular with new home construction, it is a mottled texture (primarily used to conceal imperfections from drywall contractors). The finish/texture is less intense than popcorn, similar to the texture of an orange peel. In my opinion….not “century home” friendly.

#2 on the dreaded list of ceilings is the dropped, suspended, acoustical tile, or T-bar ceiling. Originally intended to be used for acoustical/soundproofing purposes, it became very popular in the 1960’s+. It was inexpensive, easy to install and easy to conceal piping, wiring and duct work. Very popular in basements, but eventually (and unfortunately), made its way upstairs. Much easier to remove than the popcorn ceiling.

When thinking of amazing ceiling treasures/transformations, I have to mention Puddicombe House in New Hamburg, Ontario. Several years ago, while living in Stratford, Ontario (home of beautiful century homes!), my daughter and I ventured out in the winter to Waterloo. When leaving Waterloo to return home to Stratford, a major snow storm was in the works. On Hwy 8 we were stopped by road blocks in New Hamburg, there was no way of going home. Driving around New Hamburg, hoping to find some accommodation, we found a gorgeous B&B. Feeling a little desperate, (the owners were in the middle of hosting a Christmas party), luckily they were able to accommodate us. What a beautiful place….totally renovated by Lyle and Karen Cressman. http://www.puddicombehouse.com (click on ‘Revising The Past: New Hamburg; under Newsletter & Reviews, to see the amazing reveal!)

Circa 1868, the Puddicombe House was extensively restored in 2006 to accommodate a full service restaurant, spa and hair salon, as well as a bed and breakfast. The house features impressive Italianate architecture and rich décor. It has 12 foot ceilings with plaster cornice molding and painted detail. In the morning I did have a chance to learn a little about their extensive renovations, all impressive, but most of all…..once they removed the drop ceilings, the ornate plastered and painted ceilings were beyond words!!

How quickly summer has passed, time to get back to posting! I had to add this beautiful property to Real Estate For Sale. Old home lovers will appreciate this…..

This beautiful 1850’s Victorian is located in the heart of historical East Galt, Cambridge. Immaculate and lovingly maintained, this 2151 sq.ft. charmer features 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. Some of the wonderful features include; a beautiful original curved staircase plus a second back staircase, hardwood floors, two stunning arched bay windows with original trim, wood burning fireplace in the living room, a cozy functional kitchen with butcher block counters, farmers sink! and pantry, separate dining room, second floor laundry, main floor office or 4th bedroom, main floor family room with skylight. The main bathroom features a gorgeous claw foot tub and skylight.

Updates include windows, electrical, plumbing, central air, central vac, and the roof has been replaced in 2008. The exterior offers a low maintenance yard with stamped concrete and triple wide parking. The unfinished basement offers ample space, waiting to be finished to suit your needs.

Interested in more information?….feel free to contact me.

Offered at: SOLD

Charming Curb Appeal

Front scape with partial view of 3 car parking

Close up of beautiful original Corbels

Light and bright entrance

Stunning main staircase

Beautiful bowed window in living room

Separate dining room featuring another beautiful bowed window

Functional kitchen with farmer’s sink and butcher block counters…opening up to a family room

Located on a quiet tree-lined street in desirable West Galt, Cambridge, is a beautiful 3 bedroom two storey home. Upon entering you can feel the charm in this century home full of signs from yesterday year with original wood trim and some original wood floors preciously preserved. Pride of ownership has kept this home in wonderful condition with modern updates such as a family room addition with vaulted ceilings and gas fireplace. Step in to the back yard and you enter an oasis, equipped with a deck for entertaining and built-in swimming pool.

It has been a while since posting, time to catch up! During my routine walk with doggie down my former street in Victoria Park, I once again marvelled at a beautiful yellow brick Italiante Victorian. I have had several chats with the owners, a lovely couple who took over this family homestead, how fortunate to have such a beautiful home complete with historical heritage.

This stunning Italiante residence was built in 1888 for Tobias and Mary Shantz, which has remained in the same family for over a century. Arched windows with surrounding brickwork and decorative wooden brackets under the eaves are a few of the many distinctive features.

The home was originally situated on two acres of land. In 1920 the land was subdivided and sold off to develop the residential neighbourhood around it.

Tobias and Mary’s granddaughter, Dorothy Russell, and great-grandson, Harold Russell, “cleaned out the attic”, and although much textual and graphic material remains with the family, many materials have been donated which represent a significant addition to our knowledge and understanding of local history and way of life in 19th-century Ontario, particularly in Kitchener.

Dorothy Russell is a well-known name in Kitchener, especially in the Victoria Park District. Her passion for photography and her love for Victoria Park is evident in her collection of photographs which have been published and archived. Many of her photographs are published in a historical and photographic essay on Victoria Park by Rych Mills, who I have also had the pleasure to meet on several occasions, who is truly a ‘walking encyclopedia’, full of knowledge of the history of Victoria Park. This book is available in several book stores throughout Kitchener and Waterloo, and also available at the Victoria Park Gallery which is open mid-May to October on weekends.

A beautiful home…..full of memories which have continued through the family time-line. Very special!

Although this particular property for sale is not a heritage home (it is a new build), it is located in the district of Doon Mills…3 kms from Doon Heritage Village, a wonderful historical village.

Doon Heritage Village is a picturesque 60 acre living history village that shows visitors what life was like in Waterloo Region in the year 1914.

The Waterloo Region Museum is the entrance to Doon Heritage Village. The living history village is open seasonally from May to December. The village comes to life with knowledgeable interpreters dressed in authentic 1914 clothing and features historic buildings, farm animals and fun activities the whole family will enjoy.

A short walk or drive will welcome you to 20 Woodsmere Drive, Kitchener.

Enjoy privacy and a low-maintenance lifestyle in this spectacular executive end unit townhouse, located in Upscale Doon Mills.

Spend quiet evenings on the private covered balcony or enjoy the large stone patio in the spacious fenced backyard overlooking an abundance of green space.

This striking townhouse features over 2,000 sq. feet of casually elegant living. The design of this home is ingenious – open concept entertaining space; private master bedroom with master bath/spa, two additional bedrooms, three bathrooms, two family rooms (one with dramatic vaulted ceilings), recroom/games room, and a beautifully appointed kitchen featuring maple cabinetry, island and breakfast bar.

Walls of windows allow natural sunlight inside and offer a spectacular view. Walk out to the stone patio from the games room/recroom….billiards anyone?

Perfectly suited for a quiet lifestyle but ready to host family get-togethers or fabulous soirees.
Quality finishes are evident.

Features include a double garage with inside entry, gas fireplace, lawn sprinkler system, 9’ ceilings, French door walk-out to balcony, hardwood floors, main floor laundry, central air and high end kitchen appliances incl. dual-drawer dishwasher and custom window treatments.

On an evening walk with doggie and snow flying (not the Easter weather anticipated), we strolled by 43 Benton Street (corner of Charles St. and Benton St.) where the beautiful stained glass windows were illuminated….now called, “Mackenzie King Manor”, historical value is evident.

This historical address was the birthplace for William Lyon Mackenzie King. William Lyon Mackenzie King, (December 17, 1874 – July 22, 1950), also commonly known as Mackenzie King, the dominant Canadian political leader from the 1920s through the 1940s. He served as the tenth Prime Minister of Canada from December 29, 1921 to June 28, 1926; from September 25, 1926 to August 7, 1930; and from October 23, 1935 to November 15, 1948. A Liberal with 22 years in office, he was the longest-serving Prime Minister in Canadian history. Trained in law and social work, he was keenly interested in the human condition (as a boy, his motto was “Help those that cannot help themselves”), and played a major role in laying the foundations of the Canadian welfare state.

His parents John and Isabel King rented the house at 43 Benton Street in 1872. Their first child, Isabel Christina Grace (Bella), was born there on 15 November 1873, followed by their son, William Lyon Mackenzie King, born on 17 December 1874.